Aerosol type dispenser for fluids



Feb. 6, 1968 S. A. SIERPIN AEROSOL TYPE DISPENSER FOR FLUIDS Filed July 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. A. SIERPIN Feb. 6, 1968 AEROSOL TYPE DISPENSER FOR FLUIDS 2 sheets-Sme#u ,z

Filed July o, 1965 /f/ sa INVENTOR. Snluf l. Sire MF4@ w #'J 3,367,331) Patented Feb. 6, 1968 3,367,330 AEROSQL TYPE DISPENSER FOR FLUIDS Stanis A. Sierpin, 2266 lE. Kirby, Detroit, Mich. 48211 Filed .Iuly 6, 1965, Ser. No. 469,570 6 Claims. (Cl. 12S-473) The present invention relates to a new construction of a manually operated plastic apparatus for simultaneously creating and dispensing in minute doses a high grade medical aerosol for inhalation without dangerous draft and for the dispensing of medicine or other liquids in measured or unmeasured quantities.

lIt s an object of the present invention to utilize a flexible plastic material in the formation of the container or cylinder which serves as a pumping means and for maintaining increased air pressure relative to the fluids to be dispensed It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel form of carburetion means for the nebulizing f liquid particles for dispensing in aerosol form for inhalation or dispensing of minute, measured doses -of medicine or .other liquids.

The present invention provides an improved cartburetion means including air and liquid mixing chambers of novel form.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. l is a longitudinal section of the present aerosolator;

FIG. `2 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the present aerosolator with a modified outlet;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section similar to FIG. l showing a modified aerosolator;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 7 7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section of a modified carburetor;

FIG. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of FIG. 8.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings the present aerosolator comprises a closed cylinder 11 constructed of polyethylene or other plastic material :and having flexible resilient side walls andthe neck 112. Flanged 1plug 13 is sealed down into neck 12 and lhas a bore '1d which communicates with the interior of cylinder 11 at one end and at its other end terminates in a first orifice 26.

Elongated lliquid container -15 adapted 'to contain medicinal fluids, Iand vented at 416, is projected at is olpen end up into bore 1d and secured to plug 13. A carburetor plug 17 is secured within the open end of container 15 and defines with bore 14 the chamber of first turbulence 19. The carburetor plug 17 also has an axial bore 21 which terminates in the second orifice 25 in communication with the chamber olf first turbulence 19.

lElongatcd liquid delivery tube 22 within the container 15 extends at one end and is anchored as at 21 Within the carburetor plug bore and at its other inlet end 23 is arranged adjacent the end of fluid container 15.

A pair of capillary air passages 1S extend through the carburetor plug 17 and communicate with the chamber of first turbulence 19 :as lwell as with the interior of container 15.

Spring-biased ball check valve 24 is nested within carburetor plug bore 21 and normally closes fluid delivery tube 22.

Arranged over the neck 12 and secured thereto is a housing which includes the sleeve 28 threaded over the neck 12 and mounting at its upper portion the plug 29 having a series of air inlet bleed apertures 30 which communicate with the chamber 27 defined between the housing element 29 and plug 13, said chamber being idenifed as a saturation chamber.

The plug 29 forming a part of the outlet housing includes a central bore 31 having a flanged aperture 32 at its upper end Within which the outlet fitting 33 is nested and secured and which is closed at its lower end as at 34, but includes a pair of laterally directed inlets 35, for controlling velocity and draft. Outlet pipe 38 is secured as at 37 to the outlet fitting 33 and includes the laterally directed outlet 39 for the delivery of nebulized fluids as desired.

Suitable airbleed valve means are provided for the cylinder 11 in order to facilitate operation thereof 'and to provide the ready admission of air thereinto. For this purpose there is provided within the top wall of the housing 11 and connected thereto the threaded boss 40 apertured at 41 for communication with the lateral outlet 42 in communication with the passage 42 in the adjustable bleed valve 43, which communicates with atmosphere and provides a means for regulating the air bleed flow of air into the cylinder 11.

An additional similarly constructed airbleed valve 44 is provided upon the adjacent bottom wall of the cylinder 11 and which includes air inlet closable passage 45 to provide for the admission of air thereinto as required.

A madified form of outlet housing is shown at 46 in the fragmentary view (FIG. 4) which provides Ia p'air of nose outlets or delivery tubes 4S open at 49 for projection into the users nostrils. The construction of the outlet members 48 is similar to that shown in FIG. l with the outlet elements 48 communicating with the delivery chamber 47 of outlet housing d6.

A modified form of aerosolator is shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 wherein the aerosol container 5d holds the fluids which are to be nebulized as hereafter described, but is of a construction similar to the flexible wall plastic cylinder 11 shown in FIG. l, but illustrated in fragmentary form.

Within the neck 12 of the container 56 there is pro- Y vided a similar plug 13 which has a bore 14 to receive the carburetor plug 17 and which defines with the said bore the chamber of first turbulence 19, corresponding to that shown in FiG. l and which terminates in the rst orifice 26 relative to said chamber.

The carburetor plug 17 also includes the bore 21 terminating in second orifice 25 communicating with the first chamber of turbulence 19 and which incorporates a similar spring-biased ball check valve 2d normally closing one end of the fluid delivery tube 51.

The carburetor plug 17 also includes a pair or" capillary passages 18 which communicate with chamber 19 and which have projected thereinto a pair of air tubes 54 with inlets 55 which function to deliver air during the dispensing operation and with the container Sti being inverted from the position shown in FIG. 5 when in use and with the liquid therein gathering adjacent the top wall of container 50 shown in FIG. 6 which has been inverted at this time.

The fluid delivery tube is of U-shape as at 51, FIG. 6, and at one end at 52 projects up into the bore 21 of the carburetor plug and at its free end as at 53 has an inlet adjacent the carburetor plug for receiving fluid when the container 50 is used inverted.

Outlet housing 56 of cup shape is threadedly secured over the neck 12 and includes an outlet 57 providing an internal bore 58 which corresponds to the saturation chamber 31 of FIG. 1 and is in communication with orice 26.

Removable cap 59 is employed for closing of the outlet tube 57 when the dispenser is not being used.

The primary parts in the present aerosolator are the cylinder 11 with flexible walls, including neck 12 and the attached outlet housing 28-29 with outlet 38; and the fiuid container 15 within the larger cylinder 11 and projected up into the carburetor plug which communicates with the fluid container and which is projected up into the neck plug.

Operation Liquid for nebulizing is normally stored within container 15, FIG. l, and during action, namely the manual pressing inward of the walls of the container is constantly under pressure from the air enclosed within the cylinder 11. Thus, the liquid M within the container 15 is under Constant pressure.

On application or pressing inwardly of the walls of the cylinder 11 pressurized liquid is delivered through the capillary tube 22 up into the carburetor plug 17 past the bali check 24 and through the orifice 25 into chamber 19 within the plug 13 known as the chamber of first turbulence. This chamber has a top ceiling which terminates in a second orifice 26, which communicates with a saturation chamber 27.

The chamber 19 between the orifices 25 and 26 is filled slowly through the application of pressure from the inside and liquid is forced through the orifice 25 into the chamber 19. Simultaneously, compressed air from cylinder 11 is projected through the capillary ducts or passages 18 and also enters the chamber of turbulence 19 and creates a first clash or mixing with the said liquid. Under constantly increased pressure the liquid and pressurized air enter and pass through the orifice 26 and are forced into the chamber of saturation 27.

During the traveling the combined air and liquid undergo certain electrical charges which help to split the xnolecules of fluid into finely divided particles.

The upper` tubular housing or closure 29 of the present aerosolator has therein a chamber relative to the plug 13 in the neck 12 which is identified as a chamber of final saturation where mixed liquid and air from the orifice 26 meet with additional atmospheric air delivered through the airbleed inlet passages 30. It is this action of the airbleed through the passages 30' which avoids the creation of.' undesired vacuum upon the interior of the chamber 27-31 and permits the ow or entering of atmospheric air after the cycle of admission of aerosol out of the chamber for assisting in the refilling of air into the cylinder 11.

The above ducts 3ft help to hasten the injected atmospheric air for increased velocity of the aerosol and to keep a steady pressure ofthe atmospheric air when action of saturation is performed and also prevents forming descending droplets on the interior of the internal walls oi the chamber.

The present dispenser provides a high grade aerosol wherein the particles provided are one micron in diameter and the said dispenser can dispense 3 cc. of liquid in approximately two minutes time.

The present dispenser can produce high quality medical aerosol in unlimited quantities and can be use-d |for dispensing medical aerosol with the cylinder inverted from the position shown in the modified form, FIG. 5.

Where it is necessary to nebulize n very thick liquid l substitute for the elongated fluid delivery tube 22 of FIG. l a short delivery tube 22 shown in FiG. 8.

In the illustrative embodiment ythe cylinder 11 has a pair of independent air valves 43 and 44 for the intake of atmospheric air `for increasing the speed of air entry into the empty cylinder. After the cycle or" emission of the aerosol, atmospheric air very slowly enters the cylinder through the small openings 30 and the orifices 25 and 26 and passages 1S. Intake valve 43 on the top of the cylinder is useful when using light liquid |for aerosolation. The valve `44- located on the bottom is useful when heavy viscosity liquid is used for aerosolation in measured quantities, and would normally be incorporated in structure shown in FIG. 5.

These valves serve a very important role in the performance of the aerosol. When we create unmeasured aerosol the upper valve 43 increases entering atmospheric air into the empty cylinder. The lower valve not only increases the entering of atmospheric air into the empty cylinder but prevents the sucked liquid from the small cylinder 15 from entering the large cylinder caused by the vacuum created temporarily in the cylinder 11.

The present invention relates to a portable combination plastic nebulizing apparatus for the dispensing of minute measured particles of liquid to create without draft a high grade medical aerosol for inhalation. The present invention also provides a high grade medical aerosol eliminating the small liquid container 15 in a construction shown fragmentarily in FIG. 5 for the delivery of unmeasured liquid and employing the long capillary tubes and can also ybe used for cosmetic purposes.

The valves 1153l and 44 may be of a ball check type whereby the top air valve is open when the container is not in operation, but closes when the container is squeezed. A top air inlet valve such as shown at 43 may also be employed in the construction shown in FIG. 5.

Having described my invention reference should now be had to the following claims.

I claim:

1. An aerosolator comprising a closed cylinder having flexible resilient side walls and a neck;

a plug in the neck having a ybore open to the cylinder and at one end terminating in a first orifice;

a liquid container in the cylinder, vented therein, projected into said bore and secured to said plug;

a carburetor plug in the open end of said container defining with said bore a chamber of first turbulence, and having a bore terminating in a second orifice communicating with the said chamber;

a liquid tube in said container at one end extending into the carburetor plug bore;

there being a lpair of capillary air passages extending through said carburetor plug communicating with said chamber;

a housing projected over said neck having a bore defining with said neck plug a saturation chamber communicating with said rst orifice, and having a dispensing outlet;

there being a series of airbleed inlet passages in said housing communicating with the saturation chamber.

2. ln the aerosolator of claim 1, a ball check valve means in said carburetor plug bore normally closing said liquid delivery tube.

3.' In the aerosolator of claim 1, adjustable airbleed valve means in the wall of the cylinder.

4. In the aerosolator of claim 1, said dispensing outlet including a formed tube extending into said saturation chamber closed at its inner end and including laterally directed inlets.

5. In the aerosolator of claim 4, said dispensing outlet, including a delivery chamber connected to the outer end of said formed tube and a pair of nose tubes extending into said delivery chamber.

6. An aerosolator comprising a closed container for a fluid to be dispensed and having flexible, resilient side walls and a neck;

a plug in the neck having a bore open to the container and at one end terminating in a first orifice;

a carburetor plug projected into and defining with said bore a rst charnber of turbulence and having a bore terminating in a second orifice communicating with said chamber;

a U-shaped liquid delivery tube at one end extending into the carburetor plug bore and having an inlet at its other end adjacent said carburetor plug;

there being a pair of capillary air passages extending through said carburetor plug communicating with said chamber;

a pair of air tubes in said container at their one ends connected to said capillary air passages;

and a housing projected over said neck having a bore dening with said neck plug a saturation chamber communicating with said first orifice and having a dispensing Outlet; and

an airbleed valve means on said container;

said container when used to dispense nebulized liquids being inverted.

References Cited UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,238,315 4/1941 Ford et al 239-356 XR 2,758,879 8/1956 Anderson 239-356 2,774,517 12/1956 Teegardin et al. 222-205 3,130,877 4/1964 Miller 222-207 3,217,931 11/1965 Farrar et al 239-327 XR 2,474,492 6/ 1949 Spender 222-207 2,599,446 6/ 1952 Greene 222-205 2,730,270 1/ 1956 Heinemann 222-205 2,989,216 6/1961 Moro-Lin 222-207 FOREIGN PATENTS 207,302 11/ 1923 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

20 W. E. KAMM, Examiner. 

1. AN AEROSOLATOR COMPRISING A CLOSED CYLINDER HAVING FLEXIBLE RESILIENT SIDE WALLS AND A NECK; A PLUG IN THE NECK HAVING A BORE OPEN TO THE CYLINDER AND AT ONE END TERMINATING IN A FIRST ORIFICE; A LIQUID CONTAINER IN THE CYLINDER, VENTED THEREIN, PROJECTED INTO SAID BORE AND SECURED TO SAID PLUG; A CARBURETOR PLUG IN THE OPEN END OF SAID CONTAINER DEFINING WITH SAID BORE A CHAMBER OF FIRST TURBULENCE, AND HAVING A BORE TERMINATING IN A SECOND ORIFICE COMMUNICATING WITH THE SAID CHAMBER; A LIQUID TUBE IN SAID CONTAINER AT ONE END EXTENDING INTO THE CARBURETOR PLUG BORE; THERE BEING A PAIR OF CAPILLARY AIR PASSAGES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CARBURETOR PLUG COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER; A HOUSING PROJECTED OVER SAID NECK HAVING A BORE DEFINING WITH SAID NECK PLUG A SATURATION CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST ORIFICE, AND HAVING A DISPENSING OUTLET; THERE BEING A SERIES OF AIRBLEED INLET PASSAGES IN SAID HOUSING COMMUNICATING WITH THE SATURATION CHAMBER. 